The perfect breed for me?
Hello
I am Going to buy a new dog ( first dog that will be really mine ) And fell in love with 4 of the Japanese breeds and would like to know which one i should pick ( My favorite is the shikoku )
This will be my First dog although my grand parents, my cousins, and my dad ( I do not live with him ) have allways had dogs so I'm used to them ! I've been reading all bout training dogs using positive and non repetitive methods. I am going to buy books to learn and will have the help of my cousin that is French Bulldog breeder. I also think that i am enough of a natural leader to have a dog that could be a challenge.
I am contacting you to have your opinion on what would be the perfect breed for me. I live in Lisbon, Portugal in a big apartment and would have 1 hour per day for exercise and training plus time for 2 to 3 (15-20 min ) walks. during the week end i would have 1 to 3 full days to spend with the dog. I'm looking for a "friend" for a life time, not a dog to feed and keep locked in my room. The dog would have to spend 4 to 7 hours per day alone maximum and i can find people to check on him everyday when I'm not at home. I like to do long walks on the mountains, like to go travel to places with snow ( would take the dog ) and like to skate board and etc.
SO . . A dog that is smart and somewhat independent but that still loves to play and is kind of a clown some times ( like me ) . A dog that likes to pull if possible ( I skate board ). A dog that likes to learn new tricks.
I have a big apartment in Lisbon ( Portugal ) and i will always have someone to walk and feed him if i go away somewhere for a week or so and the dog cannot come with me ( my aunt or cousin , that are persons my dog will see at least 2 to 3 times a week ! )
grooming / shedding is not really a problem as i have the week end to spend with the dog ( only other thing i have to do is study , and i don't study much ! )
The dog HAS to be social ( with humans and other dogs ) or at least accept them as i will bring him when I go to a bar or a cafe's terrace to have a drink with friends. And if i go to a club or so , I suppose that any breed after 3 hours walking and training wont really have a problem with staying alone a few hours specially if i bring the dog to my aunt's house.
The breeds i like are .. well basically any medium / large spitz breed but my favorites are Shikoku / Husky / Shiba / Kishu / Hokkaido /Malamute / and Czechoslovakian Wolfdog ( the one i prefer but i cannot take because it attacks other dogs of the same sex / needs company 24/7 or it destroys the house after 30 minutes alone and i do not have the money and time to take care of more than one animal . If i did i could buy a wolfdog and a cat and then they can even be the whole day alone and the dog is Okay !)
Thank you for your time !
Kind regards
Gabriel Correia
I am Going to buy a new dog ( first dog that will be really mine ) And fell in love with 4 of the Japanese breeds and would like to know which one i should pick ( My favorite is the shikoku )
This will be my First dog although my grand parents, my cousins, and my dad ( I do not live with him ) have allways had dogs so I'm used to them ! I've been reading all bout training dogs using positive and non repetitive methods. I am going to buy books to learn and will have the help of my cousin that is French Bulldog breeder. I also think that i am enough of a natural leader to have a dog that could be a challenge.
I am contacting you to have your opinion on what would be the perfect breed for me. I live in Lisbon, Portugal in a big apartment and would have 1 hour per day for exercise and training plus time for 2 to 3 (15-20 min ) walks. during the week end i would have 1 to 3 full days to spend with the dog. I'm looking for a "friend" for a life time, not a dog to feed and keep locked in my room. The dog would have to spend 4 to 7 hours per day alone maximum and i can find people to check on him everyday when I'm not at home. I like to do long walks on the mountains, like to go travel to places with snow ( would take the dog ) and like to skate board and etc.
SO . . A dog that is smart and somewhat independent but that still loves to play and is kind of a clown some times ( like me ) . A dog that likes to pull if possible ( I skate board ). A dog that likes to learn new tricks.
I have a big apartment in Lisbon ( Portugal ) and i will always have someone to walk and feed him if i go away somewhere for a week or so and the dog cannot come with me ( my aunt or cousin , that are persons my dog will see at least 2 to 3 times a week ! )
grooming / shedding is not really a problem as i have the week end to spend with the dog ( only other thing i have to do is study , and i don't study much ! )
The dog HAS to be social ( with humans and other dogs ) or at least accept them as i will bring him when I go to a bar or a cafe's terrace to have a drink with friends. And if i go to a club or so , I suppose that any breed after 3 hours walking and training wont really have a problem with staying alone a few hours specially if i bring the dog to my aunt's house.
The breeds i like are .. well basically any medium / large spitz breed but my favorites are Shikoku / Husky / Shiba / Kishu / Hokkaido /Malamute / and Czechoslovakian Wolfdog ( the one i prefer but i cannot take because it attacks other dogs of the same sex / needs company 24/7 or it destroys the house after 30 minutes alone and i do not have the money and time to take care of more than one animal . If i did i could buy a wolfdog and a cat and then they can even be the whole day alone and the dog is Okay !)
Thank you for your time !
Kind regards
Gabriel Correia
Comments
what is a must is the bond the dog would have with me and the fact it likes to go on long walks ( mountain / countryside / snow ) And that he is ok with staying 4-7 hours alone per day , not in a row ( if 7 hours he will see me in after around 3h30 and then i'd be gone for more 3h30 )
Thank you so much for you answer
Huskies, on the other hand, have a bit more of a will to please their owners and are pretty social. Plus, they love to be active!
I wouldn't choose a malamute for 2 personal reasons.
1) the ones I've met aren't the most social creatures. They're nice dogs, but the ones I've met (only 3) tend to be more observers than participants. Meaning, they like to look at the crowd, but don't want to be part of it. That, again, is my personal observation of very few malamutes.
2) having a family pet is different from having one on your own. When I moved out and got my first Chihuahua, it was a lot to handle. I had no help training, feeding, letting out to potty, etc. It was also a lot for me to deal with financially. Malamutes eat a lot, and vet care can be expensive because they weigh a good bit and require higher doses of medications which, of course translates to higher costs for said medications.
Again, those are personal preferences... You can do what you want with the info.
Don't "take away" anything that you are looking for in a dog just because you like a breed. I'm not trying to get on your case, but that's really important. For instance, I have a weird love of yorkies, but I hate brushing my dogs every day (I don't even brush my own hair every day, lol). If I went ahead and got a yorkie, we'd both wind up miserable because I would resent brushing the dog and the dog would wind up with mats in its fur because I wouldn't do a good job. This is why I have short haired dogs.
But to be severely frank, the dogs you listed aren't for the beginner dog owner. And often times are not recommended for apartments. Some can be very strong willed. You have done your research, which is great! And I don't doubt you would be very happy with your chosen dog and your dog with you. I only stress that the dogs you listed are not generally considered first-time-owner-friendly.
Your list of dogs you really like is a great list and similar to my own! I love those wolfdogs too. If your heart is set on one of the above, then all the power to you! Again, I believe the husky would be better suited for your lifestyle and what you want from it. Just wanted to add, though... and not sure if you'd share the interest -- but have you looked in to the swedish vallhund? They are also pretty awesome, and I think tick plenty of your boxes, too!
Shikoku (and Nihon Ken in general) are pretty standoff dogs. They can be very picky on what people and dogs they will allow near them, and even with proper socialization they may still be uncomfortable around people they don't know. My girl gets along fine with dogs and people she has had positive experiences with, but generally doesn't like people she doesn't know. She's also a busy body, even if she was comfortable with strange dogs and people passing I just can't see her calmly sitting at a cafe. She would most likely inspect every little thing she finds, demand attention, and fidget around due to quickly getting bored.
Something to also consider is that since the Shikoku breed is still fairly new outside of Japan, there is still a higher chance of getting a pup with health issues. Many breeders are working to improve the overall breed health, but this takes time and work. When I brought home my shikoku girl, my hope was to do some dryland mushing with her but she wound up having bad hips so it's not advisable to work her in that manner. She still makes for a good hiking buddy, so long as we take frequent rests (which she hates btw) and don't over exert her, and I do hoe to take her canoeing so it's not like she doesn't get to do anything. Still, the risk of getting a pup with this issue is greater with a shikoku than with a husky.
One thing about huskies though, they tend to do better with another dog than as an only dog. Living with, or giving access to, another dog can sometimes be more tiring and satisfying to them than long walks and lots of exercise.
Needless to say, none of those breeds are technically good apartment dogs, and they all can get quite destructive when bored, but all in all it really depends on your activity level and how much daily stimulation (both physically and mentally) the dog will get. The husky would be the most suited dog on your list, so long as they receive a decent amount of exercise and attention. They really are a great breed and worth seriously looking into, meet a few that live locally to you and you may be surprised at how quickly you fall in love with them. Actually, try to meet all of the dogs on your list, it's a great way to really get a feel of each of the breeds and better learn which ones are suitable for you.
Thank you all again
As you are learning, try to let go of the "dominant" thing- you are a teacher, a guide, and a friend, you make fun things happen for the dog- don't ruin it with thinking the only way is to "dominate" the dog and be a tyrant. If you have the good stuff and make fun things happen, the dog will trust you and be eager to do stuff *with* you- and you'll build a great relationship with the eager, best friend you want your dog to be!
Siberian Huskies are a great breed, sure they can have a lot of energy and require a bit of work, but the end result is amazing. Just be careful, this breed is addictive and you can't have just one.
Of course I will come and let you guys know ! only getting the dog in September tho
Thank you for all the help ! and thank you for the books , will check them out !
Be consistent with rules and be confident, yes, because your dog needs to understand what you want (not playing a constant guessing game) and your dog's attitude and reactions to the surrounding world are in part based on you. Don't be overbearing, though, and remember that dogs aren't trying to conquer the world. Huskies are independent and may think and act for themselves, but limited as my experience may be, I've never met a husky that was really trying to take over. I've met quite a few that were out for themselves, though, and would evaluate what was in it for them as to whether they should follow a command. This isn't a matter of showing the dog who's boss--it's a matter of teaching the dog that good things happen when it cooperates with you, that you are a source of good things and guidance in life.
@WrylyBrindle put it wonderfully when she said that you are a teacher, guide, and friend for your dog.